Maccabi Tel-Aviv have announced the departure of manager Ronny Deila, effective immediately. The decision comes with just six league games remaining in the Israeli championship, where Maccabi currently sit in third place, and three weeks before a scheduled cup final.
The circumstances surrounding Deila’s exit are unusual, stemming from an incident last Thursday. According to Israeli newspaper Yediot Acharonot, Deila allegedly made inappropriate advances towards a taxi driver, offering to pay for her services with sexual favors. Deila has acknowledged “an incident” but claims to have no recollection of the details, stating he had consumed excessive alcohol.
“I had too much to drink and therefore chose to take a taxi. If my comments offended the taxi driver, I offer my sincerest and deepest apologies,” Deila said in a statement relayed by N12. A police investigation has been launched, and the coach has already been questioned.
The 50-year-old Norwegian arrived in Tel-Aviv in February, tasked with guiding Maccabi to domestic success and making an impact in continental competition. Prior to taking the role, Deila managed Celtic, New York City FC, Standard Liège, and Bruges, demonstrating a varied and international coaching career. He secured league titles with both Celtic and Molde, and enjoyed a successful stint in MLS with New York City FC.
While Maccabi Tel-Aviv are still in contention for the State Cup, Deila’s sudden departure casts a shadow over their end-of-season ambitions. The club will now begin the search for a new manager to lead them through a crucial period, with the cup final looming and the pressure to secure a higher league finish intensifying. The timing of the dismissal, so close to key fixtures, presents a significant challenge for the club’s hierarchy.
